Indian States Reorganisation: Commissions, Acts and Dates

The internal boundaries of the Indian Union have changed repeatedly since Independence to balance language, administration, geography and political integration. These changes have been made mainly through constitutional powers under Article 3 and through Parliament’s reorganisation laws.

Constitutional Framework under Article 3

• Parliament’s power: Article 3 empowers Parliament to form a new state, increase or diminish the area of any state, alter its boundaries, or change its name.
• President’s recommendation: A Bill for such a change can be introduced only on the President’s recommendation.
• State Legislature’s views: Before giving recommendation, the President refers the Bill to the concerned State Legislature for its views within a specified period.
• Non-binding opinion: The opinion of the State Legislature is not binding on the President or Parliament.
• Legislative supremacy: Reorganisation under Article 3 is therefore controlled by Parliament, not by the affected state alone.

Early Post-Independence Commissions

• Dhar Commission (1948): Set up in June 1948 under Justice S.K. Dhar, it submitted its report on 10 December 1948.
• Recommendation: It advised that reorganisation should be based on administrative convenience, financial viability and geographical contiguity, not language alone.
• JVP Committee (1948-49): Formed by the Indian National Congress in December 1948, it consisted of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and Pattabhi Sitaramayya.
• Report date: The committee submitted its report on 1 April 1949.
• Stand on language: It also rejected the idea of language as the sole basis for creating states.
• Andhra State: On 1 October 1953, Andhra State was created by separating Telugu-speaking areas from Madras State.
• Trigger: This followed the death of Potti Sriramulu after a 56-day hunger strike.

States Reorganisation Commission and 1956 Reorganisation

• States Reorganisation Commission (SRC): Appointed in December 1953, it was headed by Justice Fazl Ali, with K.M. Panikkar and H.N. Kunzru as members.
• Report: Submitted in September 1955, the SRC accepted language as an important factor for reorganisation.
• Key principle: It rejected the “one language, one state” formula.
• States Reorganisation Act, 1956: This Act, along with the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956, abolished the old classification of states into Parts A, B, C and D.
• New structure: With effect from 1 November 1956, India was reorganised into 14 states and 6 Union Territories.
• Significance: The 1956 reorganisation became the main foundation of the modern federal map of India.

Important Reorganisation Acts and Dates

Further Territorial Changes

• Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu: The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Act, 2019 merged the two Union Territories into one effective 26 January 2020.
• Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019: The former state was bifurcated into two Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir, with a legislature, and Ladakh, without a legislature.
• Effective date: The reorganisation took effect on 31 October 2019.
• Article 3 route: Such territorial changes are carried out by Parliament through ordinary legislation under Article 3.

Key Prelims Takeaways

• Article 3: Parliament can create new states, alter boundaries, change areas and rename states.
• President’s role: A reorganisation Bill needs the President’s recommendation before introduction.
• State Legislature’s view: The concerned legislature is consulted, but its opinion is not binding.
• Dhar Commission and JVP Committee: Both rejected language as the sole basis for state creation.
• 1956 change: The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 and the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act ended the Part A, B, C and D system.
• Important date: 1 November 1956 marked the major national reorganisation into 14 states and 6 Union Territories.
• Exam point: Reorganisation under Article 3 is not a constitutional amendment under Article 368.